Syracuse
Syracuse is a program that to be honest doesn’t have a lot going for it coming off a 3-9 season that had just 1 conference win. Head coach Scott Shafer needs to show some marked improvement this year, or I wouldn’t be surprised if he enters 2016 on the hotseat if he returns at all. Winners of at least 7 games the previous 3 out of 4 seasons, the Orange couldn’t turn finish turning the corner, and now are back to rebuilding mode.

Will Go 6-6 (3-5) if:
QB Terrel Hunt can return to his 2013 form. Going into 2014 I had him as one of the ACC’s five best quarterbacks. He’s a talented player with loads of ability. Last year the Orange had one of the worst offenses in the country, and Hunt must again be the QB he was in 2013. The defense was actually pretty decent last year, but it’s going to be extremely young and inexperienced this season. They have to mature quickly. The opening schedule of Rhode Island, Wake Forest, and Central Michigan should have the Orange starting 3-0. South Florida and at Virginia are winnable games. If the Orange can steal one more game along the away, a .500 season is not out of reach.

Will Go 3-9 (1-7) if:
That offense approaches anything we saw last year. There weren’t alot of playmakers on Syracuse’s offense in 2014. Hunt’s return will help, but the Orange will be limited on that side of the ball. LSU was an ill-advised game to schedule. The Orange really have no business playing the Tigers out of conference this year. Syracuse still has to play at Florida State, at Louisville, at NC State, and Clemson. That’s probably 5 losses which doesn’t leave much margin for error for Syracuse.